Aladdin To Launch New Series By #1 New York Times Bestselling Dork Diaries Author Rachel Renee Russell

New York, June 18, 2015—#1 New York Times bestselling Dork Diaries author Rachel Renee Russell will publish a new illustrated book series, it was announced today by Mara Anastas, Vice President, Publisher, Aladdin and Simon Pulse. The new series, called THE MISADVENTURES OF MAX CRUMBLY, will launch in April 2016 followed by a second book in Spring 2017. With 20 million copies currently in print worldwide of the Dork Diaries books, the latest book in the series, Dork Diaries 9: Tales from a Not-So-Dorky Drama Queen, will debut at #1 on the New York Times series bestseller list on June 21, 2015.

THE MISADVENTURES OF MAX CRUMBLY introduces Max Crumbly and his daily ups and downs at South Ridge Middle School. Homeschooled by his grandmother until he begs his family to send him to public middle school, Max begins to rethink that choice when Tommy Silver keeps stuffing him in his locker. For ages 8-12, this hilarious and heartfelt new series is illustrated with Max’s black-and-white comics as he attempts to escape the locker and tries his best to be the hero his school needs.

“It just makes perfect sense for Rachel Renee Russell to continue to write for this age group, this time about a boy hero. Like Nikki Maxwell and her Dork Diaries friends, Max Crumbly is an enormously funny and likeable character sure to endear himself to Rachel’s existing fan base as well as a whole new audience of fans,” said Anastas.

Rachel Renee Russell added, “I’m excited to introduce Dork Diaries fans to a whole new world and the misadventures of a new hero, Max Crumbly, to root for and laugh with, as he navigates the pitfalls of middle school and the secrets that literally hide behind a NOT so ordinary locker!”

Anastas acquired the rights to THE MISADVENTURES OF MAX CRUMBLY from Daniel Lazar of Writers House. It will be edited by Liesa Abrams, Vice President, Editorial Director of Simon Pulse and Associate Editorial Director of Aladdin, Rachel’s longtime editor since the first Dork Diaries book. The new series will be published simultaneously by Simon & Schuster UK and Simon & Schuster Australia. The audiobook will also be released by Simon & Schuster Audio in Spring 2016.

The next eagerly anticipated blockbuster in the Dork Diaries series, Dork Diaries 10, will be published on October 20, 2015. The film version of the series is in development at Lionsgate.

ABOUT SIMON & SCHUSTER CHILDREN’S PUBLISHING
Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing, one of the leading children’s book publishers in the world, is comprised of the following imprints: Aladdin, Atheneum Books for Young Readers, Beach Lane Books, Libros para niños, Little Simon®, Margaret K. McElderry Books, Paula Wiseman Books, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, Simon Pulse, and Simon Spotlight®. While maintaining an extensive award-winning backlist, the division continues to publish acclaimed and bestselling books for children of all ages. In addition to numerous Caldecott, Newbery, and National Book Award winners, Simon & Schuster publishes such highprofile properties and series as Eloise, Olivia, Raggedy Ann & Andy™, Henry & Mudge®, The Hardy Boys®, Nancy Drew®, the Dork Diaries series, the Mortal Instruments series, Mike the Knight, and the original Cupcake Diaries and Creepover series. For more information about Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing, visit our website at www.simonandschuster.com.

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